“I feel like a breathing zombie right now,” South African artist Zanele Muholi wrote, following the theft of five years of her work. “Whoever ransacked the place got away with more than 20 external hard drives with the most valuable content I’ve ever produced.” In April, Muholi’s apartment was burglarized, the thief making off with camera equipment and hard drives containing her work on queer lives in South Africa.

Muholi has dedicated her career as a photographer to the African LGBT community, particularly focusing on Black lesbians. Her photographs document the faces and experiences of Black lesbians throughout Africa, providing visibility for a group that is ignored, or made victim to horrific hate crimes.

The photographs show the forbidden intimacy between African women. In one photograph, two women kiss. In another, a couple bathes together in a rural township home. By capturing these acts of love and affection on film, and in simple every day spaces, Muholi defies those who would erase or destroy Black women’s same sex sexuality.

The New Yorker has commented on the theft of Muholi’s work, but most major media have ignored the loss. And truly, this is a great loss for the LGBT community and the world. The theft is assumed to have been a hate crime, as little else was stolen. Gone are photographs that were never shown publicly. Muholi has said, “I am in mourning,” and it seems many members of the international community feel similarly. The loss of Zanele’s work photographing LGBT Africa is a blow to the community, and its history.

No doubt, many people have been moved by Muholi’s work and wish to see her continue to take photographs despite this devastating loss. There is hope in the support she has been receiving, hope for LGBT Africa’s continued preservation of its history as well.

It’s so sad to see this, but it proves just how powerful Zanele Muholi’s work is. I’m glad she’s moving forward and staying strong. It’s important to see the support from the community standing by her.

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